Tom on the shoulder

[travismcf]

Okay. So we have three large young Narragansett turkeys that like to follow me around for everything I do. I know they are extremely curious creatures so I generally don't mind, so long as they are safe in doing so.

Yesterday I was grilling and our big tom got on my shoulder. I got him off after a few minutes, then he later tried again. If I had a shirt I wouldn't really have cared. My wife says this is bad behavior, that he is trying to show dominance. I figured he just wanted to see what was going on in the grill. Any input?

Also when they do misbehave like peckinh at fingers or trying to jump in the grill, how do you properly train a turkey against this? A light push away and a "no" like a dog?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The thing with turkeys is they are very curious and like to explore by pecking, and they like to be up high so your shoulders become a convenient perch, I would certainly try to discourage this behavior before they get too big, not because it's dominance behavior which it isn't, but because they can do some damage to you.

These are some of the reason mine get locked in there pen, to keep them out of trouble and to keep me from going insane, turkeys are wonderful to interact with, they like to be talked to and will follow you everywhere pecking and looking.

I don't think they understand the concept of no, I think they work off of the concept of a behaviors becoming set, so discourage what you don't want them doing so they won't keep doing it, a push away works, but they can be persistent, I lock mine back in their pen when they start to get obnoxious, though if they get an idea in their heads it can be hard to change it.

 

[travismcf]

Thank you for the input. They are already big enough to do damage. So it wasn't pleasant. It wasn't as bad as I expected either (until the missed landing the second time.)

They are 5 months old. The one in question is probably about 14 pound.

They are stubborn though, and want to be part of EVERYTHING. The only sign of fear I have seen from them is of our top goat when they try to eat the goat feed.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I think that would knock me down, naughty turkeys, they are so goofy, nothing like chickens, mine come running when I call them. Were you planning on eating them, mine are just eye candy unless I get too many toms when I hatch a few out. Hard to send anyone to the gallows.